Fun of Good Old Japanese - 江戸・明治に学ぶ　楽しむ生き方

Toyama House is at Miboro district in Shiragaka-go area in central Japan ; the most popular tourist spot "Ogimachi" district in Shirakawa-go area is at the downstream of Miboro. Toyama family was the hereditary village head and also was one of three clans of manufacturing and sales of gunpowder material in the area. The house was built in around 1827 . It is famous that the big family (forty members at the peak time ) lived in it ; Yanagita Kunio, who was the initiator of Japan folklore, investigated it. It is said that extended families lived in the same house because there is not enough flat land. 外国人に人気の 白川郷・荻町集落の上流にある御母衣集落の名主を務めたのが遠山家 。白川郷に３軒しかない焔硝の製造販売を取りまとめた家でした。 築年は 1827 年頃。特筆すべきは、 40 人もの大家族 で暮らしたことで、民俗学の創始者・柳田國男らが調査に訪れ有名になりました。耕地となる平地に恵まれず、分家することが容易ではなかったため、大家族形態の家族構成になったといわれています。   The toilet and its tank are by the entrance ; there is also a big tank outside (upper left). Urine was material of gunpowder , which had been manufactured until 1887. 玄関の脇に大きな便槽 ...

Ogimachi district at Shiragaka-go area in central Japan, is one of the most popular tourist spots, due to its senary with “Gagassho-zukuri” buildings (a large residence featuring a steep thatched roof). Most of walkers are travelers; most of residents work for tourist industry such as inns and restaurants. I felt like in a film set. I've finally come here.　ついに来ました。稲穂が実っています。 初めて行った白川郷荻町集落は、合掌造りがよく残っていたと思う反面、歩行者は観光客、住民も民宿や商店など観光客相手の仕事。映画セットの中を歩いているような不思議な感じでした。白川郷は富山湾に注ぐ庄川沿いに数十の集落が点在する地域です。   I visited the Wada residence, and was surprised with the large sake (alcohol) vessels ; locals have produced large quantities of *doburoku* (unrefined sake). Since there were not enough rice fields (material of sake), they have probably drunken on specific occasions. 和田家を訪ね、 酒器の大きさにビックリ 。どぶろくが多量に造られたようです。米はそんなにとれなかったはずなので、特定の行事で派手に飲んだのでしょうね。   It's Sunday, but the number of foreigners was more than it of Japanese. 日曜日でしたが、日本人より外国の方が多かったです。 Rice had been harvested, and was dried un...

Ainokura village at Gokayama area in central Japan, is downstream from Shirakawa-go. The Traditional Industry Museum is a “Ggassho-zukuri” building : a large residence featuring a steep thatched roof. Its information board notes, regarding the site's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site, that "recognition was also given to the efforts of the locals who preserved this beautiful quaint environment amidst the rapid economic growth of Japan." Indeed, while many other settlements along the river have replaced their Gassho-zukuri homes by modern housing, the preservation here is evidence of the residents' deep attachment to their landscape, their village, and their homes . 相倉集落は白川郷の下流、富山県・五箇山 にあります。伝統産業館は、合掌造りの建物。 案内板には、 ユネスコ世界遺産 になったことに関し、 “ 経済成長の著しかった日本という国で、その美しい環境を守ってきた住民の努力もまた、評価の対象となりました ” と記されています。 確かに、同じ庄川沿いでも合掌造りを現代住宅に建て替えた集落が多いなかで、萱葺きの大型住居を残したのは、住民の皆さんの風景、集落、家への愛着ですね。 So, let's go to the village. 　では、集落内へ。 Key features of Gassho-zukuri in...